This year has seen the Children's Meeting for Worship team, Augene and Leticia, with support from Nigel, implement a structured programme of engaging and worshipful meetings as modelled on 'The Way of the Child'.
Facilitating this programme, and adapting it to Tottenham Meeting, has required much thoughtful planning and extra preparation from a team committed to bringing the benefits of this format into the spiritual lives of our child attenders. There is a strong sense that the children have enjoyed the process of belonging and participating in these meetings, offering a space for them to give voice to their lives and thoughts about their place in the world and the community of Quakers.
‘The Way of the Child’ is an existing programme which calls children to recognize their own relationship with God and creates a quiet space in which to worship. From when they are greeted at the door, and asked to remove their shoes, the scene is set for calm, quiet and worshipfulness. We gather together and share our experiences and thoughts of the last week or month in fellowship. We settle into silence and an adult lights a large candle, reminding us all that “that there is a bit of God in each of us.” Then a candle is lit for each child with the name being said, including siblings and for children who are not present. A guided breathing exercise follows to help the children to move into the quiet of the worship. A parable or Quaker story is read; comments shared about the story, and then children move to the “stations” for quiet contemplation and prayer.
The children’s creativity has been given full rein to open up and explore their experiences through diverse 'stations' that utilise different age appropriate media and materials, such as sand, play dough, objects from nature, painting, writing and 'mindful' gazing at significant objects. In a survey completed by the children themselves, they voiced an appreciation of what they had been led to do but at the same time, wondering if new ideas for the 'stations' could be explored, as they felt that variety would be more engaging for them.
While the children worship they may create something. This is an expression of their worship; not a finished piece of art. ‘Way of the Child’ focuses not on what has been produced but on the worship experience. Children are encouraged to participate in Meeting for Worship by taking time to be silent and comfortable with themselves, and to make a connection with God. After Meeting, this can sometimes be forgotten, as the children are put on the spot to talk about their very personal experience of worship.
Looking forward, we have begun the process of identifying new themes that the children have expressed and are putting them into place for this year, 2011. Whilst remaining faithful to a familiar format and routine, the team adapted and included a special 'one-off' Meeting for Worship this January. Catherine Utley facilitated this with the team’s support. Children decorated a Tottenham Meeting calendar, while bringing to mind those people whose birthdays are noted on the calendar.
Last year has been a good year in developing the concept of 'Way of the Child' and has consolidated the routines needed to make it meaningful, while improving the confidence of the team in providing such a novel and subtle programme for our children. The coming year will see a continuation of this programme but with more note taken of the wishes of the children in developing the format according to their needs and aspirations. We welcome ideas and comments about improving the experience as a whole for the children.
We would like to thank all those who have supported the team and the children this year and feel sure that we can rely upon this in the coming year too.
